LGBT community marches for local support and civil rights

He said he had nowhere to turn. Just 21-years-old at the time, he was convinced there was no one out there like him.

"I thought I was the only gay person in the world," said Lombardi, who is currently the development director of the Lansing Area AIDS Network. "In those days, there wasn't anyone to help in a crisis like that and it was traumatizing. It was embarrassing and shameful."

On Saturday, Lombardi will lead more than 15,000 members and supporters of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community through the streets of downtown Lansing as the grand marshal of the LGBT civil rights march.

While he's leading the massive mob to the steps of the Capitol, Lombardi said he will be overwhelmed with pride for his community.

The LGBT community has come a long way toward gaining equal rights and treatment, but the movement still has a long way to go, Lombardi said.

"We must continue to march until we have achieved equality in America," he said.

Kevin Lambrix, co-chair of the event's sponsor, Michigan Pride, said he hopes the weekend's events will raise awareness about LGBT equality issues.

"The overall purpose is to educate, inform and entertain the LGBT community on their civil rights and the rights that are denied to them," he said.

The theme of the weekend's events is family and each touches on the issue of gay marriage. It also aims to promote unity for society.

"It doesn't matter if you're gay or straight, we're all part of one union," Lambrix said. "There needs to be equal rights for all, not just a select few."

People will start lining up for the annual march at noon on Saturday at Riverfront Park, 501 N. Grand Ave., and celebrate as they venture to the steps of the Capitol, where the rally will kick off at 1:30 p.m.

The LGBT civil rights rally will feature eight speakers who will reflect on the event's theme, and Lansing City Councilmember Kathie Dunbar will be the master of ceremonies.

Following the rally, more than 250 couples will exchange vows in a group commitment ceremony on the Capitol steps, Lambrix said. Couples who wish to participate can register during the rally.

The Lansing Community College Gay Straight Alliance, or LCC GSA, built a "just married" float for the march, which will be accompanied by at least 10 members of the group, said Jennifer Spenny, alliance advisor.

"The theme of the parade … kind of got the discussion rolling toward marriage rights, and the 'just married' theme came up," she said.

The weekend's events can serve as an eye-opening experience for the area's student community, Spenny said.

"It's a great social event for students who don't usually see a lot of community support," she said.

"It's important they know they're not alone, that they have lots of support, and lots of community and organizations that are LGBT friendly."

Events like the rally give students an opportunity to band together and discuss LGBT issues, said Sean Niven, LCC GSA president.

"College students tend to flock toward each other at these events," Niven said. "(They) see where the other colleges are at, and see what other students are doing … and formulate ways on how to impact the community at a positive level."

Students in MSU's LGBT community may feel isolated on campus, and this weekend they have an opportunity to branch out, Lombardi said.

"It's an opportunity for them to get outside of the MSU community … to see there actually is a movement that is taking place in Michigan," he said.

Society has a lot more LGBT resources now as opposed to when Lombardi was thrown out of the U.S. Coast Guard, he said.

"Today we know there's a community," he said. "There's community centers and support groups where someone like me being outed … can turn to and find support."

Jon Schultz can be reached at schul320@msu.edu.